STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With 706 branches and 1.8 million customers nationwide, Santander, a global financial institution based in Spain, is making a commitment to give back to the Staten Island community.

Despite recently removing the Staten Island brand from its name, Santander Bank officials say they have undertaken various initiatives --including those that "give back" to the Staten Island community -- since its 2009 takeover of Sovereign Bank.

"We are the largest bank on Staten Island and have about 52,000 households (on Staten Island) doing their banking here," said Josephine Moran, Santander executive vice president and New York/New Jersey region president.

Employing over 185 people -- most of whom live on Staten Island -- at its 20 Staten Island branches, Santander is making a concerted effort to become a viable part of the Staten Island community.

For example, the Santander Bank Foundation provides grants to local non-profits that are focused on "low moderate income programs," said Ms. Moran.

"The buckets are education, housing and things like that," she added, noting the bank will be speaking to the Staten Island Not-For-Profit Foundation in July about its grants.

Another Santander initiative is its "Ideas for Good" campaign, launched in November, which calls for donations to be given to local non-profit organizations -- all selected by Santander customers. A total of about $6,500 will be donated in the coming month to the organizations that were chosen.

"Our Ideas for Good giving campaign is a reflection of the close connection between our customers and our branch team members -- both here on Staten Island -- and across our northeast footprint," said Ms. Moran.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

The bank also motivates its employees to participate in community service.

"Team members" or employees at each branch are allotted two paid days off per year to volunteer with an organization of their choice on Staten Island," said Ms. Moran.

The organization also provides space at its Staten Island branches to several non-profit organizations, including the March of Dimes, Red Cross of Staten Island, VNA Association of Staten Island, SCORE and the Small Business Development Coalition.

And it's not just bank managers who get involved in the community. Santander also rounds up its team members to donate money to the March of Dimes through the bank's "Blue Jeans for Babies" campaign.

"Staten Island raised over $5,000 for the campaign. Team members donate money to the March of Dimes to wear blue jeans to work," said Ms. Moran.

The bank also makes an effort to have its staff offer personalized service to Staten Island customers.

"We have our team members in the branches mirror the local communities," said Ms. Moran. "For example, if we have a heavily Spanish-speaking community, we have bi-lingual team members in the branch so we can best service that community."

Santander also invests in educating future customers by conducting "financial literacy programs" in high schools and colleges.

"When the students go away to college, they will know how to maintain their checking accounts," she said.

In addition, Santander sponsors the Neighborhood to Neighborhood program, developed under the Bloomberg Administration to spur economic development in the five boroughs.

NEW PRODUCTS FOR CUSTOMERS

New offerings by Santander include: A new mobile app for customers' banking needs, upgraded online banking, new envelope-free ATMs with fraud security protection, Extra20 checking -- a checking account that pays customers $20 each month simply for making at least $1,500 in direct deposits and paying at least two bills online during the same period -- and Santander Bravo MasterCard, which pays triple points on gas, groceries and restaurant purchases up to 15,000 points per calendar quarter.

"With Extra20 we actually pay new and existing customers to do their banking," said Ms. Moran.

Santander is also piloting its Santander Select personalized banking service, now available at two branches in Manhattan.

Santander Select is designed for clients with over $250,000 in assets.

"Enhancing the experience of our customers was the main idea behind development of our Santander Select program," said Ms. Moran.

"Consumers are looking for ways to make the most of their money and we believe they'll find our Santander Select service to be a very compelling option."